Flasher for electric lamps.



No. 68|,992. Patented Sept. 3, l90l. C. SLUSSER.

" FLASHER FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS.

(Lpplicetion filed Apr. 15, 1901.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES: mvsuron' #254 d ('lydefiwoaer UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLYDE SLUSSER, OF DANVILLE, ILLINOIS.

FLASHER FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 681,992, da.ted September 3, 1901.

Application filed April 15, 1901. Serial N0- 55,868. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLYDE SLUSSER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Danville, in the county of Vermilion and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Flasher for Electric Lamps, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for causing the flashing of an elec tric light; and the object is to provide a simple attachment for a lamp by means of which the lamp-current will be automatically cut in and out at irregular intervals, giving a flashing effect, making the device particu larly useful in show-windows, illuminating signs, and other places in which it is desired to attract attention.

I will describe a flasher for electric lamps embodying my invention and then point out the novel features in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side view of an incandescent electric lamp, showing a flasher embodying my invention as applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same, and Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a thermostat which partially surrounds the lamp and consists of a strip of brass and a strip of soft iron, the iron strip being about one-half the thickness of the brass strip, and they are secured together at suitable intervals,by copper rivets. At one end the thermostat is secured to-a metal hanger 11, connected to a block 12 of insulating material, and is in electrical connection, by means of a screw 13 passing through the block, with a contact or circuit-carrying arm 14, leading into the lamp-socket and having connection with one pole of the filament, and the other pole of the filament is connected to an arm 19,

with which a leading-in wire 15 connects. The

through a binding-screw 21 on the hanger 18.

In operation the current passing through the lampsay from the wire 15-will pass through the arm 19, the filament, the socket, the arm let, the screw 13, the hanger 11, the thermostat, the contacts 16 and 17, the hanger 18, and out through the wire 20. As the thermostat becomes heated from the lamp it will be expanded, breaking the contact at 16 and 17, and consequently cutting out the current. As the thermostat cools it will contract and again make the contact to close the circuit and light the lamp. As the heating will be somewhat irregular, it is obvious that the making and breaking of the circuit will be somewhat irregular, and this is preferable to a flasher operating at stated or equal intervals of time, because it is more liable to attract and hold attention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A flasher for electric lamps, comprising a thermostat suspended from the lamp-socket and partially surrounding the lamp, a hanger arranged in the lamp-circuit and with which one end of said thermostat is connected, a hanger in the electric circuit, a contact adjustable in said last-named hanger, and a contact on the free end of the thermostat, substantially as specified.

2. A flasher for electric lamps, comprisinga thermostat partially surrounding the upper portion of the lamp, a hanger arranged in the electric circuit of the lamp, another hanger arranged in the electric circuit and insulated from the first-named hanger, both hangers being connected to the lamp-socket, an adj ustable contact in the last-named hanger, a contact-plate on the free end of the thermostat, a connection between the first-named hanger and a pole of the lamp-filament, and a connection between the other pole of the filament and the lead-wire, substantially as specified.

3. A flashing device for electric lamps, comprising a thermostat arranged in the electric circuit and partially surrounding the lampglobe and adapted to open and close the circuit at irregular intervals of time, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLYDE SLUSSER.

W'itnesses:

R. H. JOHNSON, M. L. GONNELLY. 

